Washington has captured seven of those
aforementioned 11 crowns. Frankford hasn't triumphed since 2006, so the
hunger level should be high, especially since the Pioneers won the
regular-season title last season and then failed to seal the overall deal.

In Class AAA, which now features 10
schools (division games began in Week 1), we should be looking at a fierce
battle.

Edward Bok Tech, accustomed to dominating
in AA, has moved up and Thursday's game at West Philadelphia could prove to
be challenging. Boys' Latin and Simon Gratz, a pair of charters, also
deserve spots in who's-No. 1 discussions.

In AA, even a team of Imhotep Charter's
second-liners would probably be good enough to seize first place.

Rusher David Williams, a transfer from
West Catholic, last week surpassed 3,000 career yards and then made a visit
to Arizona State; many big-'uns are chasing him. Another star rusher, Eerin
Young, is now filling more of a dual-purpose role.

Please sit down in case this next
statement causes you to faint, but . . . there are no new teams this season!

Gotcha! There's one. Mastery Charter
North, based at the ol' Pickett Middle School in West Germantown, is now
part of AAA. (And has a respectable squad, as well, much in contrast to
recent-add-ons/now-outta-heres such as Mariana Bracetti Charter, Esperanza
Charter, Freire Charter and Thomas FitzSimons. )

MCN's coach is John Davidson. The other
new bosses are Northeast's Jim Adams, Edison's Al Coleman (formerly of
Mastbaum), Franklin's David Carter (all-timer there, played at West
Virginia) and Imhotep's Albie Crosby, who left behind assistant duties at
West Catholic when it appeared almost certain that school would close.